YMCA OPERATION BACKPACK 2008
4th Annual Archdiocesan Operation Backpack
July 14th to August 17th

How can MY parish help?

1. Commit to providing students with the tools they need to succeed: Participate in Operation Backpack from July 14th to August 17th!

2. Designate a volunteer contact to work with the archdiocesan Development Department to coordinate Operation Backpack in your parish.

3. Register as a participating parish by returning the Operation Backpack registration form.

** During the four week period of July 14th to August 17th, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and YMCA will supply your parish with depository boxes where members of your community may donate/deposit backpacks and school supplies.

** At the end of the 4 week period the supplies/backpacks from parishes will be collected at St. Mary Seminary for sorting and distribution to children who need them.

How can I help?

** Register your parish to participate as a collection site

** Become a Volunteer for supply sorting August 2-3 & 21-23 at St. Mary's Seminary

If you have any questions about Operation Backpack , please contact Leslie Barrera
in the Development Department via phone at 713-652-8257
or e-mail at lbarrera@archgh.org

Knights of Columbus
53rd Anniversary Bazaar

Sunday, July 20, 2008

11:00am til ?? ~~ Auction at 1:00pm

KC Hall in Anderson , TX

Bar-B-Que, Plates $7 ~~ Raffle ~~ Auction

1st Prize: $500 Cash 4th Prize: $200 Cash

2nd Prize: $300 Cash 5th Prize: $150 Cash

3rd Prize: $250 Cash 6th Prize: $100 Cash

TICKETS ON SALE FROM KC MEMBERS AND AT THE DOOR.

$1 Each or Book of 6 for $5

In observance of Independence Day, there will be NO MASS on Friday, July 4th. The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, July 4th.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

BIBLE CLASS DISCUSSION GROUPS

Pope Benedict said this is the year of St. Paul ; therefore, we will be studying the books in the bible written by St. Paul . Bringing Home the Word, which is available each week at the back of the church, will also have articles for more information on him.

  We have held class for two years now and the interest has really grown since we started with only five participants. We now have 22 signed up and usually have at least 15 attend each week. This number in attendance works well for this type of bible study. The sessions last for 6 weeks in the fall and spring. We meet in the CCE classrooms at the church on Thursdays at 10am.

  We are also looking for new leaders.  Please know that y ou do not have to be a bible scholar to lead.  Several parishioners have asked about maybe holding a class at a different time.  We have several couples that attend -- perhaps other couples would like to get together for a night session.

  If you are interested in attending or leading or would prefer a different place and time, please fill out the survey below and return to Gail or place in the basket on Sunday.  

FOR ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL BARBARA KAPCHINSKI AT 936-825-1779 .
 
PLEASE RETURN THIS SURVEY BY JULY 25 .

WHAT AREA DO YOU LIVE IN?     _____________________________

WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK WOULD WORK FOR YOU? WHAT TIME OF DAY?

Monday      Tuesday       Wednesday     Thursday      Friday Morning Afternoon Evening

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN LEADING A CLASS IN YOUR AREA?        YES           NO

NAME_______________________________________PHONE _____________________________________

The St. Mary Catholic Church Cemetery Committee and Fr. Ed have been working on improvements to St. Mary Cemetery for some time. They are in the process of installing a new wrought iron fence around the cemetery and are requesting families or individuals to sponsor a 10' section of the fence for $500 per section.

A permanent plaque at the front of the cemetery will denote sponsorships.
*******
Donations are still being accepted for the St. Mary's Restoration fund. There are spaces still available and sponsors will be recognized on a permanent plaque.

Call the parish office at 936-894-2223 for more information on both projects.

Jul 1 [Bl. Junipero Serra]: Am 3:1-8;4:11-12 * Ps 5:4-6,6-7,8 * Mt 8:23-27

Jul 2: Am 5:14-15,21-24 * Ps 50:7,8-9,10-11,12-13,16-17 * Mt 8:28-34

Jul 3 St. Thomas : Eph 2:19-22 * Ps 117:1,2 * Jn 20:24-29

Jul 4: [St. Elizabeth of Portugal ]: Am 8:4-6,9-12 * Ps 119:2,10,20,30,40,131 * Mt 9:9-13 15

Jul 5 [St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, BVM]: Am 9:11-15 * Ps 85:9-10,11-12,13-14 * Mt 9:14-17

Jul 6, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Zec 9:9-10 * Ps 145:1-2,8-9,10-11,13-14 * Rom 8:9,11-13 * Mt 11:25-30

Jul 7: Hos 2:16,17b-18,21-22 * Ps 145:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9 * Mt 9:18-26

Jul 8: Hos 8:4-7,11-13 * Ps 115:3-4,5-6,7-8,9-10 * Mt 9:32-38

Jul 9 [St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions]: Hos 10:1-3,7-8,12 * Ps 105:2-3,4-5,6-7 * Mt 10:1-7

Jul 10: Hos 11:1-4,8c-9 * Ps 80:2-3,15-16 * Mt 10:7-15

Jul 11 St. Benedict: Hos 14:2-10 * Ps 51:3-4,8-9,12-13,14,17 * Mt 10:16-23

Jul 12 [BVM]: Is 6:1-8 * Ps 93:1,1-2,5 * Mt 10:24-33

Jul 13, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 55:10-11 * Ps 65:10,11,12-13,14 * Rom 8:18-23 * Mt 13:1-23

Jul 14 Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha: Is 1:10-17 * Ps 50:8-9,16-17,21,23 * Mt 10:34--11:1

Jul 15 St. Bonaventure: Is 7:1-9 * Ps 48:2-3,3-4,5-6,7-8 * Mt 11:20-24

Jul 16 [Our Lady of Mt. Carmel ]: Is 10:5-7,13b-16 * Ps 94:5-6,7-8,9-10,14-15 * Mt 11:25-27

Jul 17: Is 26:7-9,12,16-19 * Ps 102:13-15,16-18,19-21 * Mt 11:28-30

Jul 18 [St. Camillus de Lellis]: Is 38:1-6,21-22,7-8 * Is 38:10,11,12,16 * Mt 12:1-8

Jul 19: Mi 2:1-5 * Ps 10:1-2,3-4,7-8,14 * Mt 12:14-21

Jul 20, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wis 12:13,16-19 * Ps 86:5-6,9-10,15-16 * Rom 8:26-27 * Mt 13:24-43

Jul 21 [St. Lawrence of Brindisi ]: Mi 6:1-4,6-8 * Ps 50:5-6,8-9,16-17,21,23 * Mt 12:38-42

Jul 22 St Mary Magdalene: Mi 7:14-15,18-20 * Ps 85:2-4,5-6,7-8 * Jn 20:1-2,11-18*

Jul 23 [St. Bridget of Sweden ]: Jer 1:1,4-10 * Ps 71:1-2,3-4,5-6,15,17 * Mt 13:1-9

Jul 24 [St. Sharbel Makhluf]: Jer 2:1-3,7-8,12-13 * Ps 36:6-7,8-9,10-11 * Mt 13:10-17

Jul 25 St. James: 2 Cor 4:7-15 * Ps 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6 * Mt 20:20-28

Jul 26 Sts.Joachim and Anne: Jer 7:1-11 * Ps 84:3,4,5-6,8,11 * Mt 13:24-30

Jul 27, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kgs 3:5,7-12 * Ps 119:57,72,76-77,127-128,129-130 * Rom 8:28-30 * Mt 13:44-52

Jul 28: Jer 13:1-11 * Dt 32:18-19,20,21 * Mt 13:31-35

Jul 29 St Martha: Jer 14:17-22 * Ps 79:8,9,11,13 * Jn 11:19-27* or Lk 10:38-42*

Jul 30 [St. Peter Chrysologus]: Jer 15:10,16-21 * Ps 59:2-3,4,10-11,17,18 * Mt 13:44-46

Jul 31 St. Ignatius of Loyola: Jer 18:1-6 * Ps 146:1-2,3-4,5-6 * Mt 13:47-53

It's been two issues since I've recounted my fabulous cruise through the Mediterranean last October. The writing of the memories has taken longer than the cruise itself...ha. I've taken a break to wish everyone a Happy Easter and, in last month's issue, I shared with you the wonderful life, death and funeral of our parish beagle, Bridget III. Now, it's time to hit the road/sea again.

The famous St. Mary's Garage Sale is set for Saturday, July 12, 2008.

You may now bring items to donate.

In the first part of May, the Office of Aging of this Diocese, extended an invitation to the president of our senior group, the Guardian Angels, to attend a Mass being held at the new Co-Cathedral in Houston, presided over by Bishop Vasquez.

The designated day arrived with a messy weather system. With a full compliment of passengers and the rent-a-bus on the way, anticipation was at its peak. Even though the bus itself had been spotted nearby and on contacting the driver, he had made a wrong turn and was hopelessly mired in mud down a newly graded private driveway. "Where are you?" was the inquiry. "I'm setting in front of a white house and three cows are talking to me" was the reply. It gets better--a really big boy wrecker was hired out of Magnolia to get the bus back on track and he, in turn, got stuck on that newly graded 'ore trail.' Needless to say, after about three hours of patiently waiting, the group was sent home.

Credit the Holy Spirit. The weather system never abated that day and from reports of the other seven groups that did brave the elements and ended up in Houston, told of buckets of rain, with most getting a good soaking entering and exiting the Cathedral. Besides all that, the invitations had been sent to too many clubs and the response was overwhelming to the point of standing room only. The Guardian Angels graciously thank Our Lord for sparing them for the inconvenience that became a blessing in disguise.

Anyway, a visit to the Cathedral was rescheduled for the following week and all were treated to a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Vasquez, followed on the way home by a stopover at Ryan's of Conroe for a very enjoyable meal.

Please keep all of our men and women in the military in your prayers, especially ..........

Lt. Keith M. Herzog
Headquarters XVIII
Airborne Corps
Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq
(Keith is the son of George, Jr. & Nancy Herzog & the grandson of George, Sr. & Pauline Herzog)

If you have a loved one serving in the armed forces and would like to include them in our prayers, please
contact the parish office by phone at 936-894-2223 or e-mail at info@smsj.org.

What's Happening This Month??? - JUNE, 2008

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

Please join us for the celebration of Mass at 6pm in the church followed by a short meeting.

Altar Society Meeting Hostesses for June: Nancy Smith, Shirley Stucky, Freddie Seale, Dixie Puccetti

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, June 19, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, June 18, 2008 at 3:30pm with Mass to follow at 5:00pm.

We are always happy to welcome new members to our conference. We meet once a month, and our purpose is to reach out to those in need while working to improve our own spirituality. If you are interested in learning more about our work, please contact our president, C. J. LeBlanc at (936) 597-7924.

Our 7:45Am Sunday Celebration:
Sensitivity Both To Time And Temperament 

Beginning on Sunday, June 1st, our 7:45am Mass at St. Mary will take on a simpler form, acknowledging the time factor between it and the next Mass at 9am and also attempting to be sensitive to the temperament of some who are inclined to a quieter Eucharistic Celebration.

Although the importance of song in the Liturgy is never to be discounted or denied, the norms for song are specific and lend to application when the need arises. The need for adaptation at the 7:45am at St. Mary has been under consideration for a while and is now ready to be implemented.

The adaptation is really quite simple:

A. The selection of hymnody will be kept very simple, with a minimum of songs for each Liturgical Season.

B. Singing will be a capello, without instrumentation and without a music minister or cantor.

C. The sung parts of the Liturgy will be at the discretion of the Celebrant, with the Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen intoned by the Celebrant and responded to by the Assembly in song, if at all possible.

As in every Celebration, the full active participation of the faithful is expected and presumed. Just because the voice is not raised and joined in song does not imply a silent or private celebration. Attention and response to the entire Liturgy is critical, as always, for a deepening of Faith and joining with the Universal Church in our Eucharistic Hymn of Praise each Sunday.

It is important to note that the simplification does not come about because of the early hour. No hour is too early to lift our voices in prayer and song. The early Celebration at St. Joseph and the Mid-Morning Celebrations at St. Mary will remain the same.

"Therefore, by your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is being sung. Now do each of you join in this choir, that being harmoniously in concord you may receive the key of God in unison, and sing with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father."

Ignatius of Antioch , 1st Century.  

FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI

Commemorating the Last Supper, Holy Thursday is the 'Eucharistic Feast'. In its liturgical setting, however, it could not bear the devotional practices that piety required in its love for the Body of Christ, nor could it adequately allow for the joy that wanted expression, given the sorrowful mysteries of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Hence, there was a movement that began in 12th century Belgium for a special feast to honor the Blessed Sacrament. It was Pope Urban IV who first established the feast, and, most notable, commissioned the great Dominican scholar, Thomas Aquinas, to compose its liturgical texts.

Fr. James F. Burke, C.S. Sp.

Fr. Burke, who served here as our pastor from 1993-1998,
passed away on Monday afternoon, May 5, 2008 at Hemet Valley Hospital in Hemet, California at the age of 82.

Masses and letters of condolences may be sent to his nephew:

Mr. Edward Burke
11 Mount Hope Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15223

The Ladies of St. Joseph are compiling a cookbook for the 100-year Anniversary of St. Joseph Catholic Church which will be available in 2009.

We are interested in everyone's favorite / family recipes. Please help us by turning them in as early as possible so we can get this together and sent to the publisher.

Make sure your name is on the recipes submitted. Phone numbers for clarification would be helpful. All recipes can be dropped in the collection basket at St. Joseph during the 7:30 mass, dropped by the office at St. Mary or turned in to any of the below contact persons from St. Joseph.

Thank you in advance!

Kaky Wetuski @ 936-894-2307 ~~ Willie Mae Bohack @ 936-894-2379
Anne Mannina @ 936-449-4743 ~~ Swanda Smith @ 936-894-2415

"Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks, receives. The one who seeks, finds. The one who knocks, enters." Matthew 7:7

We are asking God for (and seeking amongst you ) Catechists/Aides for next year's CCE Program. Please email us at re@smsj.org for more information on volunteering or pick up a purple volunteer form in the Church Vestibule, fill it out, and place it in the marked box in the Hall!

If you would like for your child/children, who have not previously attended, to enroll in CCE next year, please stop by the Religious Education office or email for more information and forms.

Catechists/Aids Appreciation Party

June 8 th 4PM -? If you were a Catechist or an Aide please bring your family for fun, food, and games!

The following awards were given out to our CCE students this year:

PERFECT ATTENDANCE: Hannah Atkinson, Jessica McFarland, Tess O'Brien, Stephanie Fountain, and Emma O'Brien

OUTSTANDING STUDENT: Austin Penshorn, Hannah Atkinson, Calan Johnson, Dylan Weaver, Andrew Penshorn, Chris Welsh, Sarah Darling, Grace Mock, Holly Cravens, Eric Hijuelos, Meghan Molina, Brian Lauer, David Russell, Megan Fountain, and Dylan Wetuski.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE: Chelsea Bailey, Derek Cleghorn, Stephanie Fountain, Emma O'Brien, Reese Reissig, Maxwell Giddens, Emily Hibner, Jennetta Welsh, and Joseph LaRose.

Important Dates To Remember

CCE Registration August 17 th and 24 th after 9:00 and 10:30 masses in the Hall

Catechist Workshop August 20 @ 7:00 PM

Catechist Meeting August 27 th @ 7:00 PM

First day of CCE September 9 th

Confirmation Orientation September 7 th @ 12:30 PM or September 10 th @ 7:00 PM

FIRST COMMUNION

To enroll in the First Communion class students should have received the Sacrament of Baptism (copy of Certificate needed for enrollment) and have attended at least one year of C.C.E. prior to enrollment. The Archdiocesan guidelines state:

“Parents have a right and a duty to be intimately involved in preparing their child for First Communion. Parents may do this by their support and encouragement of the spiritual growth of their child through: … providing opportunities for formal religious education/faith formation.”

“The child should be participating in the parish religious education process or the Catholic school religious education formation which provides ongoing, systematic catechesis as set forth in the Diocesan Curriculum Guidelines…”

CONFIRMATION

Our Confirmation program requires two years of ongoing catechesis covering the pillars of faith (as per Archdiocesan Guidelines) prior to or in conjunction with the separate Immediate Sacramental Preparation classes. There are eight ISP classes (scheduled over the course of one year) once a month on Sunday afternoons. The students should have received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion prior to enrollment in Confirmation classes (copies of Certificates needed for enrollment).

OUT OF CYCLE

We have an Out of Cycle class for those students who need to get caught up on their Sacraments.

The St. Mary Catholic Church Cemetery Committee and Fr. Ed have been working on improvements to St. Mary Cemetery for some time. They are in the process of installing a new wrought iron fence around the cemetery and are requesting families or individuals to sponsor a 10' section of the fence for $500 per section. A permanent plaque at the front of the cemetery will denote sponsorships.

If you would like to make a donation to St. Mary's Restoration fund, there are spaces still available. Your donation will be recognized with a permanent plaque.
Call the parish office at 936-894-2223 for more information.

Celebrating The Liturgy To The Best of Our Ability And In Conformity To The Rules And Guidelines Of The Church.

The celebration of every Liturgy is important in the life of the Church and, specifically, in the life of the parish. The major responsibility of a pastor is to ensure that the celebration of every Liturgy is according to the prescribed norms of the Universal Church and celebrated to the best of the community's ability. Of course, the Sunday Celebration is paramount and requires much time and care in its preparation and celebration. But every Liturgy is worthy and requires time and care so that its celebration is indeed the celebration of the Church. The pastor is the one whom the Bishop entrusts with the responsibility of guiding the community in celebrating the Liturgy properly and with devotion.

Come and sail away on a 7-night Catholic Western Caribbean Cruise with Fr. Herbert Burke October 19-26, 2008 on the Carnival Conquest out of Galveston, TX. Ports of call: Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island & Cozumel, Mexico. Prices begin at $1025.12 fro two passengers which includes all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass and Rosary offered. Deposits of only $50 per person will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. For further info or to register, contact Doug or Eileen at 860-399-7776 / dpayttc@aol.com or after hours and weekends; contact Terri at 704-888-6050 / delucajmj@bellsouth.net.

A note of reminder from:
St. Mary's Altar Society

There will be a celebration of mass for members at 6:00pm at the June 10th monthly meeting.

All men of St. Mary's are invited to participate in a special Men's Choir, which will sing on Sunday, July 6, at the 10:30 Mass. This will be a special patriotic Mass in observance of Independence Day.

There will be only two rehearsals on Mondays, June 23 and June 30, at 7pm in the church. Dust off those rusty vocal chords and show the Lord what our men can do!

NOTE: If your name is Laviolette,Magliolo, Parsons, Brown, Lahue--this message is addressed especially to you! We have heard you and the secret is out.

Jubilate Deo!

HOLY NAME PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER'S CATHOLIC WEEKEND RETREAT

Don't put a question mark where God puts a period." If you have been questioning whether to come on a retreat, then let God finally remove the question mark and put a period in place. You know you always wanted to go, but you always had an excuse. If you are ready, so is our God. Make a retreat at Holy Name Retreat Center with the ladies of St. Mary's and St. Joseph's on June 27-29, 2008. Call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565 for more information, or pick up a registration form in the back of the church.

About fifteen years ago, the available facilities were not sufficient to meet the religious education needs of St. Mary's and expansion plans were studied in order to best serve the entire parish. The quickest and most economical solution was to purchase several portable buildings to be used as classrooms. About the same time, a couple of extremely modest corrugated structures were erected on the back side of the campus to serve as storage buildings.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT, the parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program, would like to offer a big "Thank You" to Boy Scout Joshua Welsh for his Eagle Scout project of hosting a Baby Shower on May 4. THE GABRIEL PROJECT was the recipient of donations of baby clothes, toiletries, diapers, toys, blankets, and money for it to assist pregnant women in the area. What a wonderful witness the entire parish is to this Pro-Life ministry under the Holy Spirit's direction. Thank you all for your donations to help women choose Life!!!

Scheduled for Saturday, June 28th @ St. Mary's from 9-12 in the Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow July 20th

Preparation classes for baptism are a requirement for parents or expectant parents of children up to 5 years old and are generally held every other month. Godparents are encouraged to attend as well.

We invite you to call early in your pregnancy to register for a class.
Call: Francell Busa
(936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

ALL ENGAGED COUPLES
Planning to Marry in Fall of 2008
Or Spring of 2009 

Are invited to attend a Group FOCCUS Session for Couples
On Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm
In St. Mary's Family Life Center

What is FOCCUS? FOCCUS stands for Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study. It is an Inventory for Marriage Preparation and is a requirement for couples planning marriage at St. Mary's/ St. Joseph 's Churches.

What will we be doing at this meeting? This meeting will be primarily an informational meeting for planning your wedding in the Church plus taking the FOCCUS Inventory (which consists of statements that you will respond to by marking a scantron sheet).

How long will this meeting last? This initial meeting will last approximately an hour or longer depending upon how fast you can read and mark your responses.

Do we both have to attend? Yes, it is advisable for you both to attend this meeting. Doing FOCCUS as a group saves time and effort on those doing marriage preparation ministry.

And then what happens? Your scantron sheets are taken up and computer-scored over the next several weeks and agreement graphs are prepared for each couple. They will be returned to you as a couple at the Group Marriage Preparation Weekend to be held the first weekend of August. Exact day(s) and time(s) for this is pending, but please leave that weekend free.

Ongoing throughout this period of time, a meeting will be scheduled as a couple to meet privately to complete required marriage paperwork.

Please contact Walter/Francell Busa, 936-870-4145 or 936-825-1503 or fbusa@embarqmail.com to schedule your wedding date and to begin your marriage preparation process.

REMEMBER: Marriage Preparation is a requirement of the Church and takes time and effort on your part to accomplish.

July 21-25 ~ 9:00-11:30am

SonWorld Adventure Park presents

A Thrilling Ride with Jesus

Children who have just completed Pre-K through 6th grade are invited to attend.

Volunteers are needed.
Call Michelle Mock at 894-2534
or the church office at 894-2223.

Look for more information and a
Registration form in the July bulletin.

God's Gardeners is looking for someone to write their article for the monthly bulletin. Please call the Parish Office if you are interested.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will be meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, after the 9am mass.

The First Sunday of the Month is Food Pantry Sunday.

A few can goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and Saint Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of the St. Mary's Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to
accept your offerings.

MEDITATION: The search for the concept of true love.

Is there a true definition of love? The word "love" is used loosely and is overused in our everyday conversation. For example, I love music. I love Italian food, etc. Love can be confused with the meaning of the word "want" or "desire." This can be noticed as a craving for a substitute such as political, financial, economic power, or something more ordinary, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, or whatever. Can it be that love is kind, has no envy and has no pride?
Is it a kindness of heart, soul, and mind? Is it a feeling, an emotion that can't be explained? Is love the continual act of unconditionally putting the needs of others before your own?

Perhaps, there IS a true definition of love. PERFECT LOVE was demonstrated when Jesus suffered and gave up His life for us. He manifested His heart to us with all the treasures of love, mercy, grace, and salvation. The heart became the EMBLEM OF LOVE, but it is the SACRED HEART that we, as Catholics, revere.

Saint Margaret Mary in the 17th century supposedly had a vision. The Sacred Heart was shown to her "enthroned in flames, more dazzling than the sun and transparent as crystal, bearing that wound; and it was ringed round with a crown of thorns signifying the sufferings our sins cause it. There was a cross over it signifying that from the earliest instant of the Incarnation, that is from the very instant that the Sacred Heart was formed, the Cross was planted in it.

As Bill Malek so beautifully stated recently, "when we enter St. Mary's Church, we see the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue with outspread arms lovingly welcoming us to His altar."

St. Vincent de Paul and Frederick Ozanam were so inspired by this flame of true love that they felt their encounters with poor people WERE encounters with Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION: The single word LOVE was stressed frequently to the Apostles, to the people of Jesus' time, and passed down to us. Wouldn't it be wonderful to keep that flame of the Sacred Heart burning in our hearts for the poor, as did St. Vincent de Paul and Frederick Ozanam?

God Bless!

The men of St. Mary's made their annual retreat at the Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center on the weekend of April 25-27, 2008. Our little parish in Grimes County ranked fourth in overall attendance for the entire Galveston-Houston Archdiocese retreat season. During the 2007-2008 retreat season a total of 909 diocesan men attended the weekend retreats which is an increase of over 100 from previous years. Please keep the Passionists Fathers Retreat Ministry in your prayers for the wonderful service they provide.

2009 MEN'S RETREAT WEEKEND WILL BE APRIL 24-26, 2009. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS ANNUAL EVENT. MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW WHEN AVAILABLE.

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Jun 1, Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Dt 11:18,26-28,32 * Ps 31:2-3,3-4,17,25 * Rom 3:21-25,28 * Mt 7:21-27

Jun 2 [ Sts. Marcellinus and Peter]: 2 Pt 1:2-7 * Ps 91:1-2,14-15,15-16 * Mk 12:1-12

Jun 3 St. Charles Lwanga and Companions: 2 Pt 3:12-15a,17-18 * Ps 90:2,3-4,10,14,16 * Mk 12:13-17

Jun 4: 2 Tm 1:1-3,6-12 * Ps 123:1-2,2 * Mk 12: 18-27

Jun 5 St. Boniface: 2 Tm 2:8-15 * Ps 25:4-5,8-9,10,14 * Mk 12:28-34

Jun 6 [St. Norbert]: 2 Tn 3L10-17 * Ps 119:157,160,165,166,168 * Mk 12:35-37

Jun 7 [BVM]: 2 Tm 4:1-8 * Ps 71:8-9,14-15,16-17,22 * Mk 12:38-44

Jun 8, Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Hos 6:3-6 * Ps 50:1,8,12-13,14-15 * Rom 4:18-25 * Mt 9:9-13

Jun 9 [St. Ephrem]: 1 Kgs 17:1-6 * Ps 121:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8 * Mt 5:1-12

Jun 10: 1 Kgs 17:7-16 * Ps 4:2-3,4-5,7-8 * Mt 5:13-16

Jun 11 St. Barnabas: Acts 11:21b-26;13:1-3* * Ps 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6 * Mt 5:17-19

Jun 12: 1 Kgs 18:41-46 * Ps 65:10,11,12-13 * Mt 5:20-26

Jun 13 St. Anthony of Padua : 1 Kgs 19:9a,11-16 * Ps 27:7-8,8-9,13-14 * Mt 5:27-32

Jun 14 [BVM]: 1 Kgs 19:19-21 * Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10 * Mt 5:33-37

Jun 15, Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ex 19:2-6a * Ps 100:1-2,3,5 * Rom 5:6-11 * Mt 9:36--10:8

Jun 16: 1 Kgs 21:1-16 * Ps 5:2-3,4-6,6-7 * Mt 5:38-42

Jun 17: 1 Kgs 21:17-29 * Ps 51:3-4,5-6,11,16 * Mt 5:43-48

Jun 18: 2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14 * Ps 31:20,21,24 * Mt 6:1-6,16-18

Jun 19 [St. Romuald]: Sir 48:1-14 * Ps 97:1-2,3-4,5-6,7 * Mt 6:7-15

Jun 20: 2 Kgs 11:1-4,9-18,20 * Ps 132:11,12,13-14,17-18 * Mt 6:19-23

Jun 21 St. Aloysius Gonzaga 2 Chr 24:17-25 * Ps 89:4-5,29-30,31-32,33-34 * Mt 6:24-34

Jun 22, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jer 20:10-13 * Ps 69:8-10,14,17,33-35 * Rom 5:12-15 * Mt 10:26-33

Jun 23: 2 Kgs 17:5-8,13-15a,18 * Ps 60:3,4-5,12-13 * Mt 7:1-5

Jun 24 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist: Is 49:1-6 * Ps 139:1-3,13-14,14-15 * Acts 13:22-26 * Lk 1:57-66,80

Jun 25: 2 Kgs 22:8-13;23:1-3 * Ps 119:33,34,35,36,37,40 * Mt 7:15-20

Jun 26: 2 Kgs 24:8-17 * Ps 79:1-2,3-5,8,9 * Mt 7:21-29

Jun 27 [St. Cyril of Alexandria ]: 2 Kgs 25:1-12 * Ps 137:1-2,3,4-5,6 * Mt 8:1-4

Jun 28 St. Irenaeus: Lam 2:2,10-14,18-19 * Ps 74:1-2,3-5,6-7,20-21 * Mt 8:5-17

Jun 29 Sts. Peter and Paul: Acts 12:1-11 * Ps 34:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9 * 2 Tm 4:6-8,17-18 * Mt 16:13-19

Jun 30 [The First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church]: Am 2:6-10,13-16 *

Ps 50:16-17,18-19,20-21,22-23 * Mt 8:18-22